Pernell Whitaker vs Atnonio Margorito @147

julio cesar chavez

 

Fair enough. The points you and Sweet Pea make are good, I mean on paper it seems that Pernell should be the heavy favourite... but something makes me doubt he would have such an easy night with Margarito. I honestly don't know if Pernell could go 12 rounds avoiding punches under relentless pressure AND bringing his A-game at the same time... :think

 

Yes, but where they fighting at 147 at the time?

 

i think the fight was at 147. can somebody confirm this?

 

Just checked, you are right, 147 it was.

Hmmm.....starting to change my mind after this.

I mean... Chavez >>> Margarito... no? Is there any attribute that Margo is superior at? Legit question.

 

Watch the fight with Cotto. Margo shows complete ineptitude in this area really. He more or less follows Cotto around the ring, managing to catch up to him because of Cotto's inability to keep consistently on the move, fight off the backfoot, or keep off the ropes. A guy like Chavez showed a great ability to cut off the ring, and freat technique in doing so, and was unable to trap Pea at any point. I suggest re-watching the Cotto fight, Margarito follows until he catches up, he doesn't cut off the ring, nor did he even show the ability to. That was one of my main criticisms of that performance actually. Had he done so he wouldn't have been outboxed so thoroughly early on.

As for your question, sure he's faced plenty of fighters with those abilities and better, such as Chavez, Nelson, Ramirez, Vasquez, etc. Ramirez wasn't a ring general either, but he was on the level of Margarito in that regard.

 

I take it you haven't seen the Nelson fight, where Whitaker put on one of his finest displays against an equally active, much faster and more skilled opponent with power (minus the size). I'd have to assume you've seen the Chavez fight, though I don't know why you're disregarding it.

 

Yes, I can't deny this was partly due to Cotto's inability to stay constantly on the move. But even if one has that ability, it isn't easy to keep a guy like Margo off for a full 36 minutes, not when the guy is RUNNING to catch you and it's the 11th round.

To answer your follow-up post, no I honestly haven't seen the Nelson fight, but I have seen the Chavez fight. And if you take a look at some of my above posts, you'll see that remembering the Chavez fight had me instantly swayed, so I am in no way disregarding it. The only thing that still makes me wonder a bit is the stamina issue. Chavez showed obvious signs of fatigue in his fight with Whitaker, when Margo's energy level in the 12th round seems pretty much the same as in the 1st.

 

True, but Whitaker had to do with that fatigue showing due to his own inside work, in which he actually got by far the better of Chavez during the 7th and 8th rounds and had him hurt and backing up. Not sure he'd do the same vs Margarito, but Margo's lack of the technical skills that Chavez possessed wouldn't make it neccessary to fight him on those terms anyway, and Whitaker never had any issues fighting on the move for the full 12.

Anyways, give the Nelson fight a look, it's one of Whitaker's best performances and really shows his pure boxing skills, especially off the backfoot. The fact that he was able to tame another ATG so thoroughly is really a testament to his ability.

 

No, I don't think he could do that to Margo, and also I don't think Pernell's work could affect Margo's stamina. Anyway, my point is I WOULD favour Whitaker in that fight, just not as big as you do.

And yep, I'll check out the Nelson fight. Gotta luv Pernell when he's fighting, no matter the opponent.

 

Pernell by clear UD.

 

Margarito TKO 10.

 

Margarito's stamina lets him catch up to people late in fights who don't also have such stamina. He caught up with Cotto when Cotto tired, for instance.

Whitaker would be able to maintain whatever pace he wanted against Margarito. So, Margarito can run after him for twelve rounds and for twelve rounds walk into shots and hit air. The way Margarito punches would allow Whitaker to put on a worldclass defensive performance.

 

I can't disagree. I never said Pernell wouldn't be able to produce a boxing clinic, his career speaks for itself, sure he could. I just ain't 100% sure as most guys.

 

Atnonio Margorito is coming off an exelent win over Miguel Cotto. Cotto is an outstanding boxer he is also over ratted.
If Margorito where more of a "boxer" rather than a "puncher/bralwer" I would call it a pick'em fight. A four inch reach advantage is a nice advantage to have if it is used corectly. I don't see Margorito jabing and moving, I see him looking to trade. I see Whitaker winning a clear cut decision.